Supply Teacher?

Should the name be changed?

Food for thought!

• Mervin King stated that in 1966 he did six months of supply teaching. He said it was the hardest job ever!

Concerns

• Exploitation by agencies not paying proper rates for qualified teachers.

• Not making sure the teacher is fit for purpose, i.e., maths teachers sent to teach geography!

• Agencies have control over CRB charges.

• They take around £50 a day from each teacher, privatisation by stealth.

• No pay rise for between 5 and 7 years!

More concerns

• 20,000 supply teachers.

• In July, two weeks before the end of term, there is no work as contracts end, year on year. No holiday pay.

• Lack of CPD, no opportunity to further careers. No access to the teachers’ pension.

• Competition from cover supervisors, rarely cover has not helped.

• The age range of supply teachers. (Mostly over 40s).

• Finder fee (schools wanting to keep teachers) range from £1,000-£5,000. Is this legal?

• Supply NQTs

Conflicting myths

• Over 50 per cent of the current teaching force is under 35. The feeling is they have more energy and they take less time off sick.!!!

• Using HLTA’S instead of qualified teachers goes against the Government’s White Paper and the standards agenda.

What can we do?

• Solutions and actions.

• In your groups, discuss and plan what needs to be done.

• Choose a spokesperson or persons to feed back.

• Decide on three things that you will do when you get back to your division.

Group work

Suggestions

• Local supply teacher meetings needed, to collect data.

• Each division/association should have a supply teacher officer.

• Explore the idea of co-ops as an alternative to agencies.

• NUT representatives need to engage with supply teachers.

More suggestions

• A comparison section on website about agencies to shame them.

• Increase awareness amongst school governors, teacher’s actual pay compared to the cost?

• Change the name to ‘guest teacher’ or ‘visiting teacher’.

• Promote the return to supply pools.DSB13 WK Supporting Supply Teachers E_NTP 30 September 2013